Austin adopted what were called “historic” water reuse regulations a year ago, so the program is still in its infancy, especially compared with Los Angeles and San Francisco, which adopted regulations requiring builders to put in the necessary plumbing to reuse water at least a decade ago. “San Francisco started its program in 2012 and […]
SXSW
Organizers of the massive annual festival that takes over the City of Austin each March. SXSW has donated to the Capital of Texas Media Foundation.
Posted inHousing
SXSW panelists examine causes, effects of the city’s lack of Black homeowners
A South by Southwest panel discussion earlier this week didn’t gloss over the challenges Black communities in Austin face if they’re not already owners of highly valuable residential real estate. During the panel Advancing Black Homeownership Through Housing Equity, Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford used the panel’s location in Austin to frame how […]
Posted inHousing
Icon Homes prepping smaller home printing tech to meet Austin’s infill push
Austin-based 3D-printed home manufacturer Icon Homes has plans to use new building technology created specifically to take advantage of the city’s push for smaller infill homes. After speaking at a South by Southwest panel last week focused on the push to “future-proof” sustainably built new homes against severe weather and changing needs, Jared Kuhn, Icon’s […]
Posted inHousing
Housing panelists examine what’s worked in Austin, and across Texas
At a South by Southwest panel discussion last week on housing policies in Texas, City Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison shared possible new components of the “agrihood” housing-plus-agriculture approach she championed last year. While sharing her views on steps the city has taken in recent years to address affordability concerns around housing, Harper-Madison talked about the […]
Posted inHousing
SXSW panel looks at national housing shortage – and how Austin is responding
Cities across the nation are facing the same housing crunch that Austin has spent recent years trying to correct, with a new report from Realtor.com showing a gap of 3.8 million houses and apartment units across the country. Those findings served as the jumping-off point for Monday’s South by Southwest panel discussion that included Mayor […]
Posted inParks
As hordes of visitors descend on Austin for SXSW, Barton Springs Pool is closed for cleaning
Barton Springs Pool is closed while it undergoes a deep cleaning to remove unhealthy growth and things like dirt, leaves, sticks and other debris from the pool floor. While the annual cleaning goes back more than a decade, the closure is taking place as so many people are in town for South by Southwest. Last year, the […]
Posted inPublic Safety
SXSW, public safety leaders detail road closures and prep for festival season
The city plans to completely close or restrict more than 30 streets during the South by Southwest festival next month as part of safety planning for the event, a major economic driver for the area. The heads of all of the city’s relevant safety and planning departments participated in an online forum Thursday that detailed […]
Posted inAustin
SXSW economic impact sees small dip based on lower spending for ticketing
South by Southwest’s impact on the local economy decreased slightly this year from 2023, according to a new study from business analysts Greyhill Advisors. The study found that the festival generated $377.3 million for local businesses and residents, compared to the $380.9 million figure notched in 2023 when by many measurements the event saw a […]
Posted inAustin
SXSW is accused of cozying up to ‘war profiteers.’ Musicians are boycotting.
Austin percussionist Thor Harris has been playing South by Southwest since the ramshackle days, when the festival was a platform for up-and-coming musicians hoping to be discovered by music industry insiders. This year, it’s different. “I’ve played hundreds of other music festivals and never heard of any of the other ones having war profiteers as […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Considering a community-first approach to public safety and crime prevention
Criminal justice leaders at the state and federal levels see benefits in changing the idea of public safety in the U.S. to promote community intervention and public health approaches to problems like gun violence as well as most nonviolent crimes. At a South by Southwest panel last week that considered the role of community response […]
Posted inRoads
Federal grant provides $105M for Chavez-Fourth Street cap over rebuilt I-35
The city received a boost in its plan to construct broad, plaza-like caps over sunken portions of Interstate 35, with the announcement of a $105 million federal grant to fund a portion of the construction. On Monday, the U.S. Department of Transportation named Austin as a recipient of a Capital Construction Grant that is part […]
Posted inHousing
Author, advocate explores universal income among solutions for homelessness
A San Francisco-based nonprofit group focused on helping people who are homeless is expanding basic income payments, with results that they hope can win over local elected officials willing to try the programs using public money. Kevin Adler, founder of the Miracle Messages nonprofit group and author of the book “When We Walk By,” appeared […]